The Power of 'Persistence' Will Carry Vista Murrieta's Class of 2011

Valedictorian Timothy Earr looked out across the football field filled with his fellow classmates and asked, “How can you be significant?”   

But in true valedictorian style, Earr didn’t wait for an answer. Instead, he told the crowd of 2011 Vista Murrieta High School graduates, along with the family and friends who joined them at the Wednesday evening ceremony, exactly how to accomplish that goal.  

“To be significant you have to care,” he said. “But that isn’t enough, simply saying you care.”   

Earr went on to say that donating and volunteering can make one significant. But then he added a little humor to his speech.   

Or “you can sing a song about Fridays,” he said, referring to a song ripped by critics that caused quite a stir in the pop culture world and was eventually covered by the cast of "Glee."    

Once the laughter subsided, Earr quickly returned to the thesis of his speech. If your goal is to be strong and fit you have to work at it every day, and that’s the way it is in all aspects of life, he said.   

“You run everyday, you study everyday, you work hard everyday,” he said. “If you want to be significant you have to be persistent.”

In a showing of camaraderie, Salutatorian Wesley Wong and Earr stood side-by-side during their speeches. Wong addressed his classmates first and was followed by Earr. The two students will both attend the University of California, Los Angeles in the fall.       

Earr and Wong were just two of the 850 students comprising the 2011 Vista Murrieta graduating class. Five percent of those seniors earned a grade point average of 4.0 or higher and 18 percent earned between a 3.50 and 3.90. Of the 850 graduates, 47 percent are planning on attending a two-year college and 37 percent plan to attend a four-year university, according to statistics provided by school officials.    

In addition, 6 percent of the graduates intend to join the U.S. Military. Notably, graduate Anthony Recidoro was awarded an $180,000 ROTC scholarship. And a total of 27 students received athletic scholarships.    

The students made their way up to the podium on Wednesday to pick up their diplomas clad in Bronco colors. Girls wore white gowns with Bronco gold sashes and the boys donned Bronco blue gowns with gold sashes.   

After shaking hands with school officials, the graduates were handed a white carnation and then stood for a quick snapshot.    

When all had returned to their seats, they did the ceremonial moving of the tassels from the right side to the left. They then tossed their caps in the air, and rushed to the arms of happy friends and family members.    

Amanda Schilling was one of those excited graduates. Clinging to a bouquet of flowers, Schilling hugged family and friends who continually walked up to offer their congratulations. With a smile stretched across her face, the blond 17-year-old, who plans on attending Palomar College, said high school graduation is just a step in life’s journey.   

“It’s the start of the beginning,” she said.